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AVID 



OF M ODIN 






A CHANUKAH PLAY 



BY 



JACOB J. LEIBSON 




NEW YORK 

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DAVID OF 



A Chanukah Pla.y 



y His sons. 



CAST OF CHARACTERS. 

Deborah : A widow of Modin. 

David: Her son. 

Miriam : Her daughter. 

Abraham : A servant in the house- 
hold of Deborah. 

Mattathias : The Asmonean. 

Judas : ^ 

John : j 

Eleazar : 

Simeon : 

Jonathan : 

Apollonius: Commander of Syri- 
an host. 

Alnashar: Aide to Apollonius. 

AzARiAs: A Jewish traitor. 

Soldiers, slaves, etc. 

PROLOGUE. 
[Scene : Dwelling of Deborah. Mir- 
iam on couch to the right. Deborah 

seated at table on the left. Before 

her are soldiers' garments, helmet, 

shield, and sword. Striking on 

shield heard three times without. 

Miriam starts up suddenly.] 

Miriam: O David! Mother! What 
was that? 

Deborah : My child, thou hast been 
dreaming. That was nothing but the 
sentinel striking thrice on his shield 
to signify that all is well. 

Miriam : But David — where has he 
gone? 'Twas but a moment ago that 
I saw him face to face, as plainly as 
I see thee now. 

Deborah: David? My child, what 
makes thee think of David now? 
Twas two years ago, when last I 
saw my only son, and he has not been 

Copyright, 1903, by 



here since. Ah ! God only knows 
whether I shall ever behold his face 
again. Dost remember, Miriam, how 
thy brother asked me leave to go to 
Jerusalem, and how he started with 
his harp, one early morning, to glad- 
den the holy citv with his song? How 
all the people were sad, because 
David of Modin had left them to go 
to Jerusalem. Let us hope he is there 
in safety now. Let us pray that he 
has not fallen before the enemies 
of the Lord, who have defiled the holy 
city. Who knows? Perhaps he is 
now with the God of his fathers. 

Miriam : Then it is all a dream. 

Deborah : How strange, my child, 
that thou too, shouldst have been 
thinking of him now ! But a moment 
ago I sent for the sword and shield 
of thy father. His helmet and robes 
are there too, and I was just thinking 
how my David would look, fighting 
for his God and his country. O 
David, where art thou? But tell me, 
dearest Miriam, how did he appear 
to thee? Art thou sure it was thy 
brother? Tell me, was his face joy- 
ful or sad? 

Miriam : O mother, it was none 
other than he. I am sure, for 1 saw 
him thrice. At first he appeared to 
me, carrying his harp on his back. 
I noticed that its strings were rent 
asunder, and that his face was sad. 
He seemed to regard me with a pitiful 
smile, and I advanced to take his hand, 
to speak to him words of solace, when 

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lo! he suddenly changed, and I no 
longer beheld my brother, the min- 
strel, before me. In his place stood 
one with smiling face. On his head 
stood out the long ears of a jester. 
No harp could I see, but still it was 
David, for looking again, I saw the 
scar which he had received in his 
youth. The smile that played around 
his lips was not in his eyes, for gazing 
into them I seemed to look into his 
very soul, which was sad. Again he 
suddenly changed. This time I could 
see him better than ever. It seemed 
that he had never appeared so plainly 
to me before. He stood on an emi- 
nence, with sword in hand, and once 
more his harp was with him. He 
beckoned me to go to him. I did 
so, but, alas ! as I stretched forth my 
arm, he suddenly vanished. The 
sound of battle rang in my ears, and 
— I awoke. 

Deborah : Surely, my child, there 
is some meaning behind it all. Per- 
haps we have not hoped in vain. Some 
day, by the will of God, we may see 
him again, and if so, may it be as 
in thy last vision — with sword in 
hand. O, had the Lord but blessed 
me with ten sons ! How happy I 
should be to send them to battle 
against the enemies of Israel! Hap- 
piest of women is the mother of the 
Maccabees, who so nobly defended 
our country and our religion. 

Miriam : Yes mother, the camp of 
Mattathias is in need of such men 
as our David, and — (Enter Abraham, 
bowing. ) Abraham ! What is it ? Is 
there any one without? 

Abraham: Ay. There are three 
men without, two of them sentinels, 



having in their charge a spy, a man 
who has just come down from Jerusa- 
lem, and is suspected of being an 
enemy to our cause. He asserts that 
he is a native of Modin. At least, 
so they tell me, and they have brought 
him here to see whether he speaks 
the truth. As I am newly in thy 
service, I do not know him, for he 
claims to be thy absent son David. 

Deborah and Miriam: David! 

Deborah : Tell me, Abraham, does 
he bear a scar on his forehead ? 

Abraham : Ay, near the left tem- 
ple. 

Deborah : Then it is he. Bring 
him to me at once. O Miriam, thy 
dream has come true! 

(Enter David betzveen two sentinels, 
who fall back as he rushes into his 
mother's arms.) 

David: Mother! Miriam! (Takes 
his sister's hand.) 

Deborah : My son, I feared thou 
wert no more, and nov/ I see thee be- 
fore me. O merciful God! He, who 
left me when but a stripling, has re- 
turned in the full strength of years. 
How oowerfully thou art built, my 
beloved! What brawny arms! 

David: Yes, mother, the Lord has 
been kind to me. He has saved me 
from the fate that befell so many in 
Jerusalem, and has blessed me with 
a strong arm to avenge those poor 
unfortunates. It is better fitted now 
to wield the sword, than to sweep the 
strings of the harp, which I have 
vowed never to touch until the holy 
city be restored to its former glory, 
and the base enemy be driven from 
before the shrine. Where once all 
was sacred, they have builded temples 



of worship to their idols, and altars 
to the tyrant Antiochus. My right 
arm has smitten the unfaithful, who 
dared worship at their shrines. Many 
true hearted sons of Israel rose up 
in arms and destroyed the profaned 
altars. And I and some others were 
forced to flee the city. 

Deborah : The Lord has been 
merciful in guiding thee safely to 
Modin. 

David : O mother, all along the way 
mine eyes were a witness to the evil 
work of the enemy. Nothing but 
fire and blood greeted my sight dur- 
ing the past few weeks. Even now, 
as I wended my way to Modin, I re- 
ceived word of a terrible disaster. A 
thousand of our people have been 
cruelly slain in the wilderness, in cold 
blood, because they would not defile 
their Sabbath by resisting the enemy 
on that day. I can bear it no longer, 
and that is why I am here, for I came 
to join the camp of the Maccabees. 
Mother, dear mother, I know thou 
wilt not restrain me from so just a 
cause. 

Deborah : My son, there is no 
greater pleasure in store for the heart 
of a true mother in Israel. But a 
while ago I pictured to myself how 
thou wouldst look in the martial garb 
of thy father. See, there lie his hel- 
met and his sword. Take them. The 
Lord in his goodness has answered 
the fondest wishes of my heart in 
restoring thee to me, and now, dear 
son, thou mayest go to fight in His 
name. Yonder is the camp of the 
Maccabees. On those noble heights 
they defy the base enemy. Go! And, 
if it please tlie Lord, thou wilt return 



to me in victory. If not, I shall re- 
member that it is the will of Him, 
who rules beyond the clouds. 
Curtain. 



ACT I. 

SCENE I. 

[The camp of the Maccabees. Mat- 
tathias and his five sons. Soldiers. 
Man on the ground before Mat- 
tathias.] 

Mattathias (turning to Judas) : 
Judas, what sayest thou shall be done 
with the culprit? It is almost a pity 
to put one like him to death, for he 
seems an able youth. 

Judas : Ay, father, but consider, is 
he not a spy ? Has he not taken steps 
to bring about our ruin, even risking 
his own life in the attempt to destroy 
our whole camp? What is the fate 
of all spies but death, and what other 
fate does he deserve? 

Mattathias : Thou sayest truly, 
my son. And yet it is not every sol- 
dier in the camp of ApoUonius, who 
would undertake what this one has. 
And remembei* how bravely he bore 
himself when captured. I warrant me 
that without thy opportune arrival, 
he would have beaten our soldiers oflF. 
I cannot help but admire such bravery, 
and if it be possible, nothing would 
please me more than to spare his life. 
What say thy brothers on the matter? 
Speak, Jonathan and Simeon. What 
are your thoughts, John and Eleazar? 

John : Thy words, father, appear 
reasonable to me. This man should, 
if possible, be spared. But remember, 
father, he left the camp of ApoUonius 
to bring about our destruction. How 
would his commander treat one of the 



Maccabees, if chance should ever 
throw him into his power ? 

Simeon: My brother, I fear, is 
somewhat blinded by his hatred to- 
ward the enemy. What would we 
gain by the death of the culprit? He 
is in our power, and can do us no 
harm. While he lives he may do us 
good, for we can, perhaps, obtain 
from him valuable information. 

(All nod in approbation.) 

Mattathias : Well spoken, my son. 
His tongue will, perhaps, save his 
life. We shall now see whether our 
captive will break his silence. (Turn- 
ing to spy, and touching him with his 
sword) Up ! (Spy rises and faces 
Mattathias. ) 

Mattathias : It were a pity to de- 
stroy thy life, my man, if it can pos- 
sibly be spared. But whether thou 
livest or diest, rests now entirely with 
thee. 

Spy: With me? 

Mattathias : Listen, and thou 
shalt see how. A few days ago I 
receiv^ed word of the whereabouts of 
the enemy's camp. As yet I have sent 
no spy to learn its strength. There 
are two things which I desire to know, 
and these things I can obtain from 
thee, l^irst, I desire to know, whether 
Apollonius intends to attack us soon. 
Then I wish to have a plan of the 
camp, so that I may send one of my 
men thither. 

Spy: 'T am thy captive. I must 
bow to thy will. 

Mattathias: Then speak! 

Spy: It is the intention of Apol- 
lonius to fall upon thee in about a 
fortnight. Early in the morning, he 
expects to surprise thy camp and de- 



molish it completely. His plans are 
all made, though he has not yet de- 
cided upon the day. As to our camp, 
it is situated in a valley that is well 
guarded by sentinels, who hold all 
entrances to the neighborhood. Thou 
wilt find no difficulty, however, in 
passing our frontier lines on giving 
the countersign, which is ''Apol- 
lonius, the Conqueror." Once within 
the lines, it is easy to obtain access 
to the tent of Apollonius by applying 
as a servant to his Excellency. 

Mattathias : 'Tis well. But re- 
member, if thy words prove false, 
thou shalt forfeit thv life. (Turning 
to Judas.) Bring David to me. (To 
spy.) I shall send into thy camp one 
whom I value highly, for a braver lad 
the entire Syrian host does not con- 
tain. If thy story prove untrue, and 
they touch but a hair of his head as a 
consequence, remember — thou art in 
the hands of the Maccabees! 

Spy: Would that I could feel as 
safe on the field of battle. 

(Enter Daznd and Judas.) 

Mattathias: Ah, David. I have 
an errand for thee, my lad, but it is 
a dangerous one. Thou art to go into 
the camp of the enemy, and learn 
when they are to attack us. Judas 
will instruct thee further. But, be- 
fore thou goest, take this, a half of a 
drachma, broken by my sword. The 
other portion I hold. When the enemy 
is ready to fall upon us, contrive to 
send me thy portion the day before, 
and if it match the portion I have, I 
will know it to be a signal from thee 
that the enemy is about to attack us. 
And now go. (Exit David.) As for 
him (indicating spy), guard him well. 



His fate hangs upon the words he 
has uttered. {Spy led out R.) 

(Enter soldier in haste L.) 

Mattathias: What now, Reuben? 

Soldier: O Mattathias! We have 
just discovered that one of our men 
has deserted. Azarias has gone off 
to join the Syrian host. 

Mattathias: What! A traitor in 
Israel ? Go, seek him at once. Spare 
no effort to bring him back into the 
camp which he would disgrace. Go 
Judas! Simeon! John! Eleazar and 
Jonathan! Let him not escape us. 
Ten talents of silver to the man who 
brings him back, dead or alive. 
Curtain. 



SCENE 2. 

[Tent of Apollonius. Apollonius re- 
clining on divan. Fool sitting on 
the floor in foreground. Alnashar. 
Soldiers and slaves.] 
Alnashar: Yes, your Excellency, 
there is no use in delaying the attack 
any longer. The Jews are very weak, 
and but few in number. We can 
easily destroy them and have done 
with them for ever. 

Apollonius: So we can, indeed, 
and that with but a handful of men. I 
really think it unnecessary for more 
than a few chosen ones to make the 
attack. It would be flattering to them, 
to be sure, if the entire Syrian host 
were to march against a handful of 
Jews. Should the rogues be fortunate 
enough to repel our band, it will then 
be ample time to think seriously of 
them. In the meanwhile, hast thou 
made preparation for our return, and 
for the proper conveyance of the cap- 
tives ? 

Alnashar : All is in readiness, your 



Excellency. We await but the order 
to attack. Our swords are thirsting 
for Jewish blood, and I know my 
hand, for one, is itching for the spoils. 
Apollonius : Didst thou say thirst- 
ing for Jewish blood? I have a blade 
here that shall drink most unsparingly. 
See, this sword I reserve for Judas 
Maccabseus himself. Him I shall be 
courteous enough to slay with a gold- 
tipped blade. Such handles of inlaid 
ivory and pearl are not to be found 
in every camp. It is almost a pity 
to stain it with the caitiff's blood- 
No, I'll not. For him I'll have in 
store a more deserving fate. He shall 
share the lot of the women and chil- 
dren; but only at first. Then, when 
I have dragged him a captive in 
chains, from the Euphrates to the 
Nile, I'll permit one of my slaves to 
dispatch him. There are chains 
enough in the camp of Apollonius for 
the Maccabees and their entire band. 
{Turning to soldier.) Bring me of the 
fetters that lie without. {Exit sol- 
dier.) We'll see by to-morrow 
whether these fellows in chains will 
be as cheerful and as defiant as they 
are in the mountains. {Enter soldier 
with chains.) I warrant thee there will 
be quite a change in the atmosphere. 
{To fool.) Come, fool, what sayest 
thou to these shackels? What think- 
est thou, eh ? Will the lion of Modin 
roar when we twist his tad? Speak 
and mark that thy words be witty. 

Fool: Your Excellency, from what 
I have heard of this Judas, le is a 
lion — in the fight, but an eel in fetters. 
I fear me you will find him a slippery 
article indeed. And as for twisting" 
the lion's tail — rather your Excel- 
lency than I. 



Apollonius (Angrily): Knave, 
What knowest thou of this Judas, and 
of eels? 

Fool: Naught but what hath 
reached these ears of mine, your 
Excellency. 

Apollonius : Those ears ? And, 
pray, what have long ears like thine 
to do with such rumors? I fear me, 
thou hast been meddling out of thy 
profession. (To Alnashar.) Where 
didst thou say this knave was found? 

Alnashar: Outside of the camp, 
your Excellency. He expressed a de- 
sire to serve thee, and hearing that 
thou wert in need of a jester, he volun- 
teered to play the fool. 

Apollonius: Then he has not al- 
ways been a fool. {To fool.) Knave! 
{seeing the scar). But how comest 
thou by that scar over thy temple? 
Hast seen fighting? 

Fool: Your Excellency, fools are 
born, not made. That scar I received 
in a scuffle, but not by the sword. It 
chanced one day, that a wise thought 
had gone astray, and straggling to- 
ward my poor brain, attempted to 
enter my head, not knowing the densi- 
ty of my skull. The thought strug- 
gled to get in. My skull sought to 
keep it out, and as a result of the 
conflict, I bear the scar to witness. 

Apollonius : Ah ! well said again. 
Truly, knave, thy wit hath proved thy 
salvation this time, for I was about 
to order thee to be hung up by the 
heels, and not a morsel of food 
wouldst thou have had the entire day. 

Fool : O your Excellency ! Hung 
by the heels? 

Apollonius : Yes, with thy head 
down. To a fool it matters little 



whether his feet be in the place of 
his head, or his head in place of his 
feet. 

Fool : In that case, your Excellency, 
it would also matter little, whether I 
partake of food or not. 

Apollonius: And why? 

Fool: 'Tis plain, your Excellency, 
that my stomach would then be far 
above my thoughts. 

Apollonius: Ah! Well said again. 
That was a clever one. Come, thou 
must have thy reward for this. Ask, 
and it shall be granted. But, rem<3m- 
ber, ask thou wisely, though boldly. 

Fool : For myself, your Excellency, 
I have nothing to ask. But, knowing 
how sad will be the fate of those who 
are unfortunate to be your enemies, 
it is for them that I would make a 
little request. And that is, to send 
them by your messenger 

Apollonius : Ah ! That reminds 
me. Alnashar, you are to go to the 
camp of the caitiffs at once, to deliver 
a message, giving them their last 
chance to surrender. {To fool.) But 
knave, what wouldst thou with my 
messenqfer? 

Fool : Your Excellency, with thy 
permission and that oi the noble 
Alnashar, I desire to send to the Jew- 
ish band this broken drachma — 'tis all 
I have in the world — as a token of 
my sympathy. 

Apollonius: Verily, a foolish re- 
quest, and harmless withal. (To 
Alnashar.) Alnashar, take the coin. 
And now, knave, have done with thee. 
Away. {Fool bows himself toward 
the door.) No — stay a while. I am 
weary, and need more recreation. 
Canst perhaps entertain me in some 



other fashion? Dost play the harp? 

Fool: The harp! I have taken a 
vow, that these hands of mine shall 
never sweep its strings until — (paus- 
ing suddenly) until — 

Apollonius: Until what? 

Fool : Until I learn how to play. 

Apollonius: What! another jest? 
Enough for to-day. Away with thee ! 
(Exit fool.) (To Alnashar.) And 
now for the message. Tell Judas 
that I give him three days' time in 
which to decide. If, at the end of 
three days, he does not surrender, I 
will destroy the camp and put to the 
sword every man, woman and child. 
That will put him off the track. Little 
will he think then that in the morning 
we are going to attack him. And 
mind — don't fail to deliver the fool's 
message. I warrant thee it will stir 
up their anger not a little to receive 
the sympathy of a fool. But stay — 
where is Azarias? (To soldier.) 
Tell Azarias to come hither. He 
knows the Jewish camp well. 'Tis 
but a few days since he left the Mac- 
cabees to join our camp, and he can 
be of great service to us. Under his 
direction I shall make the attack, and 
under his guidance, I have no doubt, 
thou wilt reach the place in safety. 

(Enter Azarias and soldier. ) 

Azarias: Your Excellency. 

Apollonius : Azarias, Alnashar is 
to go into the camp of the Maccabees, 
bearing a message from me, and I 
have chosen thee to guide him. Thou 
knowest the roads well. 

Azarias : Yes, your Excellency. 
There is but one narrow and danger- 
ous pass that leads to the camp, and 
if we make haste, we can return be- 
fore night. 



Apollonius: Then go at once 
(Exit Alnashar. Azarias remains.) 
Why dost thou linger? 

Azarias: Your Excellency, 1 have 
something to tell thee. As I was 
coming to thy door, there came from 
within this tent a man whom I sus- 
pect as 

Apollonius: What! A spy in this 
camp ? Name him. 

Azarias : I am not certain, your 
Excellency. But I fear there is an 
enemy here in the guise of a fool. 

Apollonius: What! My fool? 

Azarias : Yes, your Excellency. It 
seems that I have seen him somewhere 
before. I am not certain just where, 
for it is rather difficult to recognize 
one in such a garb. But that scar on 
his temple looks familiar. 

Apollonius : Nonsense. It is mere 
fancy on your part. He is nothing 
but a harmless fool, and has proven 
himself such. Would that all mine 
enemies were as harmless as he. Now, 
leave me. Alnashar is awaiting thee. 
Hasten upon thine errand, and do not 
fail to return before night. To-mor- 
row, at sunrise, we shall be ready. 
And now, I must go to prepare for the 
attack. (Exit R., Azarias exit L.) 
Curtain. 



ACT II. 



scene I. 
[The tent of Judas Maccabaeus. Judas, 

Jonathan, soldiers.] 

Judas: What news of the traitor, 
brother Jonathan? 

Jonathan: None, brother Judas. 
He is gone. We have searched every 
piece of ground in the direction of 
the enemy's camp, but found no trace 
of him. I fear we were too late. He 



had too great a start and must have 
been with the enemy, when the news 
of his desertion reached us. We 
looked and looked for days, but in 
vain. (Enter John.) 

Judas: Here is John. I see thou, 
too, hast found no trace of him. 

John: None whatever, brother 
Judas, nor have our brothers, Elea- 
zar and Simeon. They, too, have re- 
turned without the traitor. 

Judas: Ah! 'Tis a pity, The 
coward should have been brought to 
me. Oh! If I only have the good 
fortune to meet him in battle ! (Enter 
soldier.) 

Soldier: A messenger has arrived 
from the camp of ApoUonius and de- 
sires to enter. 

Judas : Bring him in. (Exit sol- 
dier.) No doubt some insolent mes- 
sage from the haughty ApoUonius. 

(Enter Alnashar, blindfolded, be- 
tween two soldiers.) 

Judas: Remove the bandage. 
(Bandage raised.) And now, what is 
thy pleasure, Syrian? 

Alnashar : I come to deliver a mes- 
sage from my master, ApoUonius. 
Judas: Speak. 

Alnashar : The noble ApoUonius 
has sent me thither to ask thee to 
surrender. He gives the MaCcabees 
three days' grace. If, at the end of 
that time, thou refusest to capitulate 
as prisoners of war, and to become 
slaves to his majesty, Antiochus, 
ApoUonius will attack the camp and 
put every man, woman and child to 
the sword. 

Judas (with a sneer) : Is that all? 

Alnashar: That is all, and I can 

assure thee that none will be spared. 



Thou needest expect no mercy, for 
there is not a grain of sympathy for 
the Maccabees in our ranks. Stay — 
yes, I had almost forgotten. There is 
one, who has shown some feeling for 
you all, and he is no other than the 
jester of ApoUonius, who sends a 
fool's offering in the shape of a coin. 
All (zvith significant glances) : A 
coin! 

Alnashar (fumbling in his girdle 
for it) : Yes, a coin. I had it but a 
while ago. Ah ! Here it is. See, it is 
but a broken one at that. 

Judas: (hastily seizing the coin): 
Tis well. Tell thy master, that Judas 
thanks him most heartily for allow- 
ing some sympathy, even if it be only 
that of a fool. Tell him that we all 
thank him for it, and that we appreci- 
ate it fully. As for his empty threat 
to put us all to the sword, tell him 
the Maccabees will consider it a 
pleasure to meet him on the field of 
battle. Then it will be seen with 
whom it rests to be lavish of mercv. 
Alnashar: Then thou dost not 
comply? Wilt still hold out? 

Judas : Comply ? Never ! And now 
not another word. Go. 

(Aln., blindfolded again, is led out 
by two soldiers.) 

Judas (turning to brothers) : See! 
David still lives. It is from him — the 
fool of ApoUonius. (Takes the other 
part from girdle and matches it.) Yes. 
It is from David, for the part fits. 

Jonathan : Then ApoUonius will 
attack us to-morrow. 

Judas: Yes, early in the morning, 
and the wretch sent word that he gives 
us three days' time. We must act 
at once. Go, brother Jonathan. Give 



lO 



word that John and Simeon are to 
guard the rear of the camp with their 
men, whilst thou and Eleazar repair 
to the sides, and stand ready to meet 
the enemy at sunrise. {To soldiers.) 
Go, my men, make haste. I ' ill pro- 
tect the frontier with my chosen band. 
Quickly, there is not a moment to be 
lost. 

Curtain. 



SCENE 2. 

[Syrian soldiers seen running, some 
of them exclaiming: "Run for your 
lives! Run! The Jews are behind 
us !" etc. Among them is Azarias, 
who comes staggering on the scene. 
Soldiers hurrying by shout : "Run 
for thy Hfe, Azarias!"] 

Azarias: Not another step will I 
go to-day. (Seats himself on rock.^ 
Run, indeed. Well, all the good run- 
ning will do them. For my part, I'd 
just as lief die here as die running 
I've run enough to-day, and I don't 
care if Judas Maccabseus himself 
comes after me. I won't budge another 
inch. Oh {shaking his head dole- 
fully) all this comes from not taking 
my advice. I told Apollonius we 
could expect nothing good from that 
fool. A harmless fool, he called him. 
{Sarcastically.) Harmless. He 

wished that all his enemies were as 
harmless. Well, they are. I have 
never, in all my life, seen a harmless 
man do so much damage in one day. 

{Enter Aln. running. He stops on 
seeing Az.) 

Alnashar: Azarias! In the name 
of the great Antiochus, what art thou 
doing here? Why dost thou not run 
for thy Hfe? 

Azarias: Doing? Why, I'm doing 



the same thing here, that I'd be do- 
ing there. {Pointing in direction in 
which soldiers ran.) It's just as near 
to heaven here as it is there. There's 
no use in trying to run away from 
death, especially when death is work- 
ing for the Maccabees. Oh, it's all 
up. We're done for — surrounded on 
every side, and thou mayest as well 
keep me company to the golden shore 
when the time comes. 

Alnashar: Why, what dost thou 
mean? 

Azarias: Mean? What can I 
mean? Canst not see how badly 
beaten we are, not the least chance to 
escape? And it's all because Apol- 
lonius wouldn't listen to me. 

Alnashar: Come, come. Don't 
try to lay the blame on anybody. It's 
neither thou, nor I, nor Apollonius, 
who is at fault. It's merely the strong 
arm of Judas Maccabaeus and his 
brothers. My! But I never saw such 
action in all my days. They made us 
fly like chaff before the wind. I do 
assure thee that if I had had any idea 
of what fighters these Maccabees 
were, I would have stayed at home. 
But what's the use of worrying? It's 
all over and poor Apollonius! That 
gold-tipped sword of his, which 
seemed so thirsty for blood, has had 
its fill — but not of Jewish blood. 
Judas Maccabseus has been keeping it 
at work pretty busily with his power- 
ful arm, and Apollonius ought to be 
glad he's no longer alive to see what a 
wreck his army has become. There's 
no use of worrying, I say. Come, 
brace up, Azarias. Thou seemest 
blue. All isn't lost yet. Look here. 
{Holds out flask.) Here's my last re- 



II 



sort — a good friend in need, I can tell 
thee. I'm just going to take a drop 
to cheer me up, and drown my sor- 
rows. (Drinks.) Here (offers it to 
Asanas.) It's good stuff. Excellent 
wine of ten years' vintage. 

AzARiAS (ignoring the offer and 
holding his head down) : I told him, 
but he wouldn't heed my words. 
Thought he knew it all. When I told 
him that fool looked suspicious, he 
said he was harmless. And I have 
never seen a harmless man fight like 
thai in all my life. 

(Alnashar, looking toward the left, 
suddenly gets scared, drops his -flask, 
and quietly sneaks away, leaving Asa- 
rias alone, who continues without 
looking up) : 

I tell thee, Alnashar, I have never 
liked the looks of that fool. 

(Enter fool running. He stops on 
seeing Azarias; quietly steals up he- 
hind him, and stands over him with 
drawn sword.) O, if I could only 
fight the battle over again ! If I only 
had my sword, / know what I'd do. 
This arm (holding it out before him) 
would do the work. There's only 
one man whom I'd wallop (shaking 
his fist) and I tell thee if I ever laid 
this on that fool (looks up, and seeing 
the fool, falls off the rock with sur- 
prise and fright. Begins rolling about 
the ground.) I — I — oh — I — please 
don't — I — I — didn't meant it — I was 
only 

Fool: Silence, knave. Arise! 
(Azarias arises.) And so we have 
the traitor, at last. Come, Azarias, 
where is thy sword? Where is thy 
army? And Apollonius, my master? 
Ha! Ha! What has become of him? 
Speak, why art thou silent? 



(More soldiers arrive on the scene. 
Enter Judas, followed by soldiers,) 

David: Yes, I found him sitting 
here all alone, telling himself a story. 
It was all about Azarias, too. Azarias 
was telling Azarias what Azarias 
would do, if Azarias could only fight 
the battle over again. 

(Enter Jezvish soldier, crying) : 
"Here he is. Here is David." (Seeing 
Azarias.) "What? Azarias! Aza- 
rias, the traitor!" 

Judas : David ! We have been seek- 
ing thee, fearing that something had 
befallen. Whom have we here? 
Azarias! Ah, traitor! So it is thou, 
who hast required the attention of 
David. I fear he has been wasting 
time with thee. Better would he have 
done, had he slain thee at once, for 
death should be the punishment of one 
who raises his hand in strife against 
his own people. 

(Enter Eleasar and Jonathan, 
bringing in Alnashar bound.) Pray, 
whom have we here, brothers? 

Jonathan : This, if thou remember, 
brother Judas, is the messenger, who 
dared to utter insolent words in our 
camp. 

Eleazar : We found him running, 
for he knew of thy approach, and that 
is how we learned that you were all 
here. 

Judas : Here is a fitting companion 
for him. Let them both be bound 
together and marched to our camp. 
And now, what news of the enemy in 
that direction? 

Eleazar : There is no news, brother 
Judas, for there is no enemy. Be- 
sides a few carcasses of elephants, 
there are but the remains of the slain 
Syrian host scattered here and there. 



12 



Judas : Then our victory is com- 
plete. The Lord has been with us, 
and the cause of the Maccabees has 
triumphed again. (Praying) : O Lord, 
Thou who hast smitten the enemies of 
Israel in Egypt, who hast deHvered 
the army of the Phihstines into the 
hands of Saul and David, who hast 
put down the enemies of thy people. 
Thou hast once more smitten the 
enemy with Thy right hand. Blessed 
art Thou, O Savior of Israel. Let all 
that know Thy name praise thee with 
thanksgiving and song. 
Curtain. 



ACT III. 
[Alnashar and Azarias, bound to- 
gether, sitting on the ground.] 
Alnashar: Well, we're in a nice 
fix now, and I wonder how much 
longer this sort of thing is going to 
last. 

Azarias: O, don't mention it. Fm 
sick and tired. Every time I think of 
it I get the blues. O, if I could only 
get loose. To be dragged around 
like this, day after day, week after 
week, and month after month, is 
enough to make anybody disgusted 
with life. 

Alnashar : O, there's no kick com- 
ing from thee. Be glad thou'rt alive. 
Why, thou never didst expect to live 
anothe*- «^ay ! 

Azarias: I didn't. It's true. But 
that's no reason why thou shouldst 
have run away and left me when thou 
sawest that fool coming. I tell thee, 
if I had only been sure that he was 
David of Modin, when he played the 
fool in the camp of poor Apollonius, 
he'd never have lived to stand over me 



with sword in hand, I tell thee that. 

Alnashar : Now, look here. Thou 
hast lost nothing, after all, by re- 
maining and I didn't gain anything by 
running away. They caught me any- 
how. 

Azarias: So they did, and they at- 
tached thee to me. 

Alnashar: Well, I don't like this 
partnership any more than thou, but 
as long as we're together we may as 
well be cheerful and make the best 
of it. Come, let's walk around a bit. 
I'm beginning to feel stiff in the limbs. 

Azarias : No ! Sit where you are. 
I'm tired. 

Alnashar: There thou art again. 
Every time I want to walk, thou desir- 
est to rest, and every time I want to 
sit down, thou gettest a notion to go 
strutting about. Now, please under- 
stand that half of these chains are 
mine, and I've got as much to say as 
thou hast. So there. (Jumps up, 
dragging Az. with him.) 

Azarias: See here. Dost forget 
that the other half belong to me ? As 
far as I'm concerned, thou canst have 
my share of the chains, too. But thou 
needest not have thy way all the time. 

Alnashar: Come, now, Azarias. 
Let us not quarrel. We ought to sym- 
pathize with each other. Here we are 
left alone, while they are fighting on 
all sides of us. We're doomed to sit 
quietly and watch them cut our armies 
all to pieces. I wonder how to-day's 
battle will end. Perhaps Lysias will 
put an end to these Maccabees, and 
then we'll be free. 

Azarias: Thou wonderest. Well, 
there's no more possibility of the Mac- 
cabees losing this battle than that 



13 



Apollonius will come to life again. 
Why, Lysias doesn't stand any more 
chance than a fly. See! There go 
his soldiers, scattering for dear life. 
Why, their own elephants are tram- 
pling them under foot. Another vic- 
tory for Judas and his band. 

Alnashar: Yes, and this time I'm 
afraid they'll get Jerusalem back. See ! 
They're coming this way, marching 
triumphantly. Good-bye to all our 
hopes. Lysias is defeated. No lib- 
erty for us. We'll have to be their 
slaves, go with them to Jerusalem and 
do all the dirty work. 

AzARiAS: Well, we won't be the 
only ones, that's certain. I can see 
that by the number of captives they're 
bringing with them. 

(Cries of ''Judas Maccabaeus! Long 
live the Maccabees!" Soldiers march 
in with captives. Judas and brothers, 
David. Cries of ''Judas! Long live 
Judas Maccabaeus!") 

Judas: My friends, ye who have 
fought so nobly to-day, do me great 
honor, more than I deserve, I fear. 



The God of Israel has been with us 
to-day, and has spread havoc among 
our enemies. This victory is due to 
you all, as well as to me. But let us 
not forget one who has done so much 
for us, and who has always been 
among the foremost in our battles. 
Let us ever remember that we owe 
much of our victory to that brave 
youth, David of Modin. 

{Cries of "Long live David! David 
of Modin!") 

And now there remains but one 
thing more for us to do. Our enemies 
are driven before us. They, who have 
opposed the children of Israel, and 
have destroyed our Temple, fear us. 
The host of the tyrant Antiochus are 
no more. Let us complete the good 
work. Our Temple remains desecrated. 
The city of Jerusalem waits to receive 
us. The days when its enemies dwelt 
therein are gone. Let us now advance 
and build up the holy city once more. 
Let us march on to Jerusalem. 

{Cries of "To Jerusalem! On to 
Jerusalem!") 




KlxXDLlNG THE CHANUKAH LIGHTS. 

(From a 17th Century illustration.) 



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